Kenyan Culture

      There are more than 70 ethnic groups among the Africans in Kenya. Distinctions between many of them are blurred; western cultural values are becoming more ingrained and traditional values are disintegrating. Yet, even though the average African may have outwardly drifted away from ethnic group traditions, tribe is still the most important part of a person's identity.

      English and Swahili are the languages taught throughout the country, but there are many other tribal languages. These include Kikuyu, Luhia, Luo and Kikamba as well as a plethora of minor tribal tongues. It's extremely useful for the traveler to have a working knowledge of Swahili, especially outside the urban areas and in remote parts of the country. Another language you'll come across is Sheng, spoken almost exclusively by the younger members of society. A fairly recent development, Sheng is a mixture of Swahili and English along with a fair sprinkling of other languages.

      Most Kenyans outside the coastal and eastern provinces are Christians of one sort or another, while most of those on the coast and in the eastern part of the country are Muslim. Muslims make up some 30% of the population. In the more remote tribal areas you'll find a mixture of Muslims, Christians and those who follow their ancestral tribal beliefs.

      Kenyans love to party, and the music style known as benga is the contemporary dance music that rules. It originated among the Luo people of western Kenya and became popular in the area in the 1950s. Some well-known exponents of benga include Shirati Jazz, Victoria Jazz and the Ambira Boys. If you're not a jive bunny, your most likely experience of Kenya is the 1985 movie Out of Africa, starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.

*Above excerpt taken from the Lonely Planet.

      A general rule of thumb is to always be SENSITIVE. There are many things that North Americans do that can be offensive to some, such as men not wearing a shirt. One must keep in mind that there will be an exchange of culture. You might do one thing a certain way, and they might do it the total opposite way. Neither way is right! They are just different. An open mind is all one needs. Remember, if you are not sure what is appropriate, all you have to do is ask the family you are staying with. The best way to avoid conflict or offending someone is to ask questions. This can and will lead to stimulating conversations. Get to know the people where you are staying. Keep in mind that some groups may be more receptive to you than others. Please don't be so afraid of breaking a cultural rule that you forget to interact with the people! Most will realize that you are not from their culture and are likely to do things differently. It's amazing what a smile can do!

As you are aware, there are health concerns that accompany travel to a developing country. Although the Kenyan government does not require any immunizations for travel into Kenya, it is strongly encouraged that you get the following vaccinations:

• Displays of affection: You will most likely never see men and women engaging in any form affection in public. However, be prepared to see men holding hands and laying together in public. This has nothing to do with homosexuality and more with male bonding.
   
• Dress: The dress code in Kenya is rather formal. Kenyans take pride in their best formal wear. However as volunteers, you will not be expected to carry with you elegant outfits. It would plenty suffice to bring one "nice outfit". Again, depending on your area of placement, the dress codes can vary. Many volunteers get away with wearing jeans and t-shirts. In some areas of Kenya, shorts are rarely worn. If it is hot and shorts are a must, then it can be one of those "cultural exchanges". Both sexes should wear socks and closed toe shoes during meetings and public events. Sandals are fine during your free time. It would be in your best interest to check with your host family about matters such as dress.
   
• Greetings: Kenyans love to formally greet each other, so be ready to shake a million hands. If you really want to impress them, shake their hand with your right hand while simultaneously placing your left hand on your right bicep/inner elbow. This is a sign of respect. You will most likely see this every time you are greeted.
   
• Meetings: Upon arrival in your new home, it is very likely that the local Kenyan officials will want to meet with you. Please take these meetings seriously. The last thing you want to do is upset a local official the first day you arrive in their community. Kenyans take pride in their official status. Please be respectful."
   
• Time: "African time" is a concept that volunteers either love or hate. In the rural areas of Kenya we have visited, punctuality is not too common. If a meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., it could very well be 1:00 p.m. or even later before things get started. That's just how things are. Many volunteers have found it enjoyable to leave their watch in the bedroom and just go with the flow. People are very relaxed and in no hurry. You will hear "Hakuna haraka" many times, which means "No hurry."
   
• Tea: This is a tradition from the British influence. Even when the weather is extremely hot, be prepared to take a break 3 times a day for hot chai (tea). Some of the past volunteers grew accustomed to this, while others never took a liking.
   
• Street children: Due to the AIDS epidemic, as well as the poverty in this developing nation, you will inevitably encounter orphaned children living on the streets begging for money. Some volunteers in the past have always given small amounts of change, while others simply tried to ignore them. Besides street children, you most likely will encounter others asking for money or sponsorship to come to the US. In regards to this issue, it is quite effective to tell the person that you work with an NGO and that all of your donations go towards the programs. This lets them know you are not a tourist that’s just there for a brief stay. People respect that.

Please note that list is by no means exhaustive. It is meant to simply give you an idea of some of the situations that you will most likely encounter during your trip.

Common Foods

      The staple diet in Kenya consists of ugali (a cornmeal paste) and sakuma weki (kale¾a spinach-like vegetable). It might take a little while to get adjusted, but you will not run into any problems with food. Meat is a delicacy in Kenya, and you will probably be served this occasionally as a sign of respect. Be prepared to eat a lot of pasta, corn, beans, rice, green grams (like lentils) and chapati (like tortillas). Many of the past volunteers have been vegetarians and have had little trouble maintaining a proper diet. For more information about the foods of Kenya, please visit the University of Penn’s African Studies Cookbook page: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Cookbook/Kenya.html

Money

      The currency used in Kenya is the Kenya schilling (KSh). Please visit The Universal Currency Converter (http://www.xe.net/ucc/full.shtml) for current exchange rates. The safest way to carry money in Kenya is in traveler's checks. This way, if they would get lost or stolen you would be able to recover the money. Barclays Bank (http://www.barclays.com/) is commonly found throughout Kenya, including Bungoma. It might not be a bad idea to set up an account with them also. They have MAC machines at most of their locations, although they sometimes have been found not to work for weeks at a time. It is a good idea to have a Visa/MasterCard (http://www.visa.com) with you just in case of an emergency. You are able to get cash advances at banks in Bungoma, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. It is advisable that you carry a small amount of cash with you upon entrance into Kenya for those little unexpected necessities. Most of the past volunteers have found it helpful to purchase a money belt that can be worn under your clothing.

Communications

      Staying in touch with loved ones back home is very important and difficult. Letters are generally the easiest way of communicating. They usually take 1-2 weeks to reach home from Kenya. We expect to have access to email while in Kenya this summer. If you do not already have a web browser based email account such as Hotmail, please set one up before departing because most computers do not have other email software such as Telnet. While in Nairobi, email and telephones are readily available. Phone calls can usually be made at local post offices, though they are very expensive (usually about $8 for a 3-minute call). Most post offices will allow your family/friends to call you back on their bill. It is usually a lot cheaper for someone in the U.S. to call Kenya than vice-versa.

Weather

      For the most up to date weather forecast in Kenya, please visit either Kenya Web (http://www.kenyaweb.com/ourland/climate/climate.html) or The Weather Network (www.theweathernetwork.com)

Living Accommodations

      The housing situation can be by far one of the most interesting aspects of your trip. In the rural areas of Kenya, there are two predominant types of houses. Many families live in houses made of mud with straw roofs. The way these homes are made is absolutely amazing! The straw roofs provide for cool shade from the hot sun in the summer months and are totally waterproof for protection in the rainy season. Others live in cement houses with tin roofs. Both suffice and are plenty comfortable. Most rural homesteads don’t have electricity or running water. Dinner is eaten by candlelight or by a kerosene-powered lantern. Water is drawn from the well on the farm and is either filtered for drinking or heated for bathing. Beds usually consist of a wooden frame with a thick mattress that allows for a pleasant night’s sleep.

Good Books

      The following list is composed of books that might be of interest to you and could possibly enhance your experience in Africa. With the certain knowledge, ordinary things can take on a whole greater meaning. If you plan on doing any leisure traveling, it is a good idea to pick up either The Rough Guide (www.roughguides.com) or Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com) version on Kenya or East Africa. These books contain an enormous amount of information about where to go, what to see, what to buy, how much to pay, etc. The books listed below are good if you want to read about some of the places that you might visit while in Kenya:

• "I Dreamed of Africa" by Kuki Gallman
• "The Flame Trees of Thika" by Elspeth Huxley
• "West With the Night" by Beryl Markham
• "The Tree Where Man Was Born" by Peter Mathiesson
• "Cry, the Beloved Country" by Alan Paton
• "A Story Like the Wind" by Lauren Van Der Post

Of course, there are many other books about Africa that are equally entertaining:

Things Fell Apart by Chinua Achebe, Letters from Africa by Dinesen, Shadows of the Grass by Dinesen, Child of Two Worlds (an autobiography) by R. Mugo Gatheru, Green Hills of Africa by Hemingway, The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Hemingway, Out in the Middle Sun by Elspeth Huxley , The Making of Mankind by Richard Leakey, North of South by Shiva Naipal, A Bend in the River by V.S. Naipal, Not Yet Uhuru (an autobiography) by Odinga Odinga, Ah, But Your Land is Beautiful by Alan Paton, Something of Value by Ruark, Detained by Ngugi wa Thiongo, Petals of Blood by Ngugi wa Thiongo , The River Between by Ngugi wa Thiongo, Wept not Child by Ngugi wa Thiongo.

Basic Swahili

      English and Swahili are the two main languages spoken. However, there are many tribal dialects of Swahili. Swahili (or Kiswahili as it is called when one is speaking the language) is the national language of Kenya and the official language of Tanzania. A useful attribute of the Swahili culture is its ability to incorporate outside influences and ideas. The grammar of Swahili is almost purely Bantu, and while its vocabulary is also largely Bantu there are also a significant number of borrowed words from Arabic-primarily cultural and religious words. Swahili has taken many words from English and other languages, in particular, words having to do with western culture and technology.

      Learning some Swahili before you travel to Kenya can prove to be quite useful and beneficial. Kenyans are much more receptive to those mzungus (foreigners/Caucasians) that attempt to speak their language. Regardless of how pathetic you might sound, they will still respect you for trying. Please check out the Swahili On Line Dictionary (http://www.gy.com/online/shol.htm) and The Internet Living Swahili Dictionary (http://www.yale.edu/swahili/swahilinet.htm) for more information.

The Necessities

      Valid passport and photocopy of front two pages (in case of loss) Kenya VISA and photocopy, Several other forms of picture identification (drivers license, state issued identification card, etc.), Mosquito netting, Insect repellent, Sheets/Lightweight sleeping bag (depending on the time of year) , Several water filters (PUR brand with iodine treated filters works well!), Pillow, Hip pack for odds and ends, 2 pairs of shoes (hiking boots and comfortable running shoes), Baseball cap/Sun hat, Sunglasses, Suntan lotion, Blistex, Flashlight with plenty of extra batteries and bulbs, Rain gear (possibly Gore-Tex, depending on the season of travel) , Vitamins, Calamine lotion, Long sleeve shirt, "Warm-up" pants, Socks, Underwear, Shorts, Travel alarm clock, Soap/Shampoo/Toiletries, First Aid kit, Swiss Army knife, Water bottle, Camera with plenty of film (10-20 rolls), Binoculars (splendid if you plan on going on safari), Journal, Gifts for the family that you stay with.

Again, for more information, please visit the following websites:

Kenya Web, The Rough Guide, My Travel Guide, Information Sources on Kenya, The Daily Nation - Kenyan Newspaper